Replacing standard BT linebox - help!

[jimk04]

Didnt know which forum to put this under so mods please feel free to move if you can pigeon hole it!

We're decorating the hall and want to replace the nasty standard white plastic 'BT Linebox' (the master phone socket). I've sank a box in the wall and have routed wires up to it through the floor/wall.

I've bought a nice brass victorian 'master phone socket' but it aint the same on the back. It has the terminals 1 to 6 for my extensions to sky etc, but in the back of the BT linebox there are two terminals labelled A and B, where the actual cable from outside your house comes in and connects that arent on my brass one.

Any ideas chaps? Dont want to call BT as I dont think your supposed to mess with the linebox as its 'theirs'!

jim

[Hi-Def]

if your talking about your NTE5 its actually illegal to touch them

i would leave well alone

the reason the wires arnt on your socket are probably becuase the NTE5 is a main box with some surge protection etc

I just cleaned mine up and left it

[KrisLee]

Hi Jim,

Hi-Def has got it mostly right. It is illegal for you to do anything with the back of the BT master socket (proabably an NTE5 if it's been installed within the last 20 years, I think) and the two wires connected to A and B. These two wires will go back to the local BT DP. If you have an NTE5 then the front section can be removed and it's this bit that connects all you internal phone wiring to the actual BT phone line. This front bit can be removed and changed by you.

The reason your socket doesn't have the A and B connectors is because it's normal master socket, as opposed to the main BT socket (NTE5).

Kris.